Moving Day

"Little Junior Brother! Congratulations on your housewarming! Your Senior Brothers and Sisters are here to help you settle in!"

Senior Disciple Brother Shi Long's booming voice came from the doorway.

Shi Long and Zheng Ying arrived together.

Behind them followed several servants, carrying several brand-new tables, chairs, and cabinets.

The items weren't particularly valuable, but they were sturdy and durable, exactly what the Wang family needed at the moment.

"Senior Disciple Brother, Second Senior Sister, you are too kind!"

Wang Yuan hurried to greet them.

Wang Gui and Madam Zhou also quickly came over to express their thanks, feeling even more grateful to Panshi Fist Academy.

Shi Long laughed heartily, helping to arrange the furniture.

Zheng Ying stood quietly to the side, her cool gaze sweeping over the small courtyard and nodding slightly, seemingly satisfied with the environment.

"Third Junior Brother Shang Yong chose a good location."

Not long after Shi Long and Zheng Ying left, another unexpected guest arrived outside the courtyard gate.

It was the eldest young master of the Zhang family, Zhang Mingyuan.

He was still dressed in brocade robes, exuding an elegant demeanor.

A young servant followed behind him, carrying several exquisitely packaged gift boxes.

"Brother Wang Yuan, please forgive my unannounced visit."

Zhang Mingyuan said with a warm smile, cupping his hands.

"I noticed Miss Wang Yu was not at your manor today. Upon inquiring, I learned of your move, so I've prepared a small token of my appreciation to congratulate you on your housewarming."

Wang Yuan understood that the other party was here for him.

However, since his sister had received protection from him at the Zhang family, he knew it was best not to offend someone with a smile.

Wang Yuan glanced at Wang Yu, who was looking a little nervous beside him, and returned Zhang Mingyuan's greeting:

"Young Master Zhang is very thoughtful. Thank you."

"Please take good care of my elder sister while she is at your manor, Young Master Zhang."

"Brother Wang, rest assured. Miss Wang Yu is highly capable, and all the servants at the manor respect her. She will certainly not be wronged."

Zhang Mingyuan promised with a smile, giving Wang Yuan plenty of face in his words.

After a few more pleasantries, Zhang Mingyuan wisely took his leave, not wanting to overstay his welcome.

Sitting in the luxurious carriage back to his manor.

The smile on Zhang Mingyuan's face gradually faded as he quietly asked a middle-aged man beside him in the carriage:

"Third Uncle, what do you think of this Wang Yuan's strength and potential? Is he truly as rumored?"

The middle-aged man replied with a somewhat solemn expression, "Young Master, this young man... is not simple."

"I observed him closely. His Blood Essence is full and contained, and he moves with the stability of a mountain."

"In my opinion, he is far more than just a beginner at Panshi Fist. It's very possible... he has already completed a Blood Change!"

"And he is by no means comparable to an ordinary Martial Artist who has undergone a single Blood Change."

"His Blood Essence is so refined and potent, and his muscles and bones so strong, that I even feel a sense of... threat."

"He gives me the impression of a fierce tiger that has not yet fully bared its fangs."

"What?"

Zhang Mingyuan's composure finally broke upon hearing this, revealing his shock.

After all, his Third Uncle was a master of the Second Blood Change, second only to his father in the family, and was highly experienced. For him to feel threatened?

"Mastered in seven days, and possibly completed a Blood Change in such a short time... Such talent is unheard of!"

Zhang Mingyuan took a deep breath, his eyes becoming sharp.

"It seems my investment in Wang Yuan needs to be increased."

"We must firmly tie him to the Zhang family before he fully rises."

The morning's busyness finally came to an end, but a sense of homey warmth had already begun to fill the air.

Wang Yuan and his family sat around the new table, recently gifted by Senior Disciple Brother Shi Long, and enjoyed a simple yet exceptionally delicious housewarming meal.

The dishes were made by Madam Zhou using the rice she brought and the meat and vegetables Wang Yuan had bought the day before.

Although not lavish, it was a great happiness for the family to be able to eat peacefully in this spacious and bright new home.

After the meal, Wang Gui habitually reached for his tools for leatherwork.

Madam Zhou also instinctively looked at the pile of old clothes in the corner, her hand halfway there before both of them paused.

The two exchanged a look, a hint of confusion and barely perceptible disappointment appearing on their faces.

The East District was now rampant with plague and its order had collapsed; their original livelihoods had long since vanished.

Now, suddenly relocated to the orderly but relatively closed-off South District, unfamiliar with the people and the place, they had become "idle people" and felt completely out of sorts.

Having worked hard for most of their lives, suddenly having nothing to do left them feeling empty and even a little frightened.

Wang Yuan saw the unease in his parents' eyes and understood.

He pondered for a moment, then took out a heavy cloth bundle from his embrace and placed it on the table, opening it to reveal stacks of gleaming silver ingots.

This was the hundred taels of silver he had confiscated from the Incense God Cult members.

"Dad, Mom."

Wang Yuan spoke, his voice calm.

"We can't go back to the East District. Since we're in the South District, we need to find a way to make a living."

"Take this hundred taels of silver."

Wang Gui and Madam Zhou were startled to see so much silver.

Wang Gui quickly waved his hands, "Yuan'er, this... this is too much!"

"You need money for your martial arts training, how can we..."

Wang Yuan interrupted his father and continued, "What I mean is, let's use this money to buy a small shop in the South District and open a general store."

"Sell daily necessities like oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, needles, and thread."

"We won't get rich, but it should be enough to cover household expenses, give you both something to do, and live a stable life."

Open a general store?

Wang Gui and Madam Zhou were stunned.

They had worked for others their entire lives and had never imagined they could be "owners" and run a business.

Madam Zhou hesitated:

"Is... is this feasible? We've never done business before, and shops in the South District must have very high rents..."

"Mom, don't worry."

Wang Yuan smiled and reassured her.

"We have Third Senior Brother."

"His family is with the Wanguan Merchant Association and is very familiar with the shop market in the South District. It won't be difficult to ask him to help us find a shop in a good location at a fair price."

"And with his care, no one will dare to cause trouble easily."

"As for doing business, it's all about integrity and small profits but quick turnover. Dad and Mom, you are both kind-hearted people, so it will definitely be fine."

Hearing their son mention their Third Senior Brother, Shang Yong, who was wealthy and generous, Wang Gui and Madam Zhou felt a little more at ease.

Yes, with the help of a benefactor, it seemed... not entirely impossible.

Wang Gui looked at the gleaming silver on the table, then at his son's steady and confident face, and then glanced around their bright new home.

A long-lost sense of drive and hope surged from the bottom of his heart.

He nodded firmly, his rough hands rubbing the tabletop, his eyes regaining their sparkle:

"Okay! Yuan'er, Dad will listen to you. We'll open a shop."

"Mom and I will definitely run this shop well, so we don't embarrass you, nor waste your good intentions!"

Seeing her husband agree, Madam Zhou also smiled.

She began to mentally plan what goods to stock for the general store, her eyes filled with anticipation for the future.

Wang Yuan was relieved to see his parents' fighting spirit rekindled.

He knew that giving his parents something to do and a focus in their lives was much better than simply being supported by him at home.

This hundred taels of silver was well worth it to bring his parents peace of mind and fulfillment.

"I'll go talk to Third Senior Brother about the shop this afternoon,"

Wang Yuan said.

"Dad, Mom, you should familiarize yourselves with the surroundings and rest for a while."

"Once the shop is settled, there will be plenty to do."

Wang Gui and Madam Zhou nodded repeatedly, their faces no longer showing confusion and disappointment, but rather expectation and drive.

Although shops in the South District were certainly not cheap.

But with a goal, their son's support, and the connections of that wealthy Third Senior Brother, they felt that life had a new direction.

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